Postdoctoral researcher - Japan Murai Fund

Offer

UCLouvain is hiring a Postdoctoral researcher - Japan Murai Fund

Job Id : SF  35645
Internal and external job posting until 15th of October 2023

For Institute for the Study of Civilisations, Arts and Letters
Main campus :  Louvain-la-Neuve
Fixed-term, full-time contract, for 24 months
The planned start date is 1st January 2024 or as soon as possible after that date

Introduction

The Japan Mirai Fund is a joint initiative of KU Leuven and UCLouvain. The main aims of this project are to develop the knowledge and to increase the visibility of the 1920s Japanese book collection (3,100 Japanese titles, from the 12th century to the 1920s, comprising almost 14,000 volumes), that is part of the Heritage Collection of the UCLouvain Libraries.
Work environment: Institute for the Study of Civilisations, Arts and Letters
Academic supervisor: Pr. Christophe Vielle

Job description

For this position, you will :

•    Conduct a personal research project that contribute to the knowledge and the visibility of the Japanese book collection
•    Be involved in Japanese book’s digitization project (selection of titles, management of metadata)
•    Participate in fundraising efforts and events related to the Japan Mirai Fund as scientific representative
•    Take part in the research activities of the Institute for the Study of Civilisations, Arts and Letters and the Institut orientaliste de Louvain
•    Give lessons and organize a series of lectures in the context of the Satsuma Chair (UCLouvain – KU Leuven)
•    Collaborate with members of the Research Group Japanese Studies (KU Leuven)

Required qualifications and skills

Musts :

•    You hold a PhD in any discipline of Social sciences, Humanities or Japanese studies
•    You have an accepted article or book chapter in an international peer-reviewed journal/edited volume
•    You have a strong interest in Japanese documentary resources
•    You have in-depth knowledge of Japanese culture, language and writings (at least classical Japanese ; knowledge of kanbun)
•    You have a strong interest in digitizing documentary resources
•    You possess excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
•    You are able to work effectively both independently and in team
•    You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and cooperative

Assets :

•    Knowledge of Japanese paleography (including ability to read kuzushiji)
•    Some background in Buddhism
•    French communication skills

What we offer

•    A full-time Post-doc position for a period of two years
•    The opportunity to develop your own research project in the context of The Japan Mirai Fund (UCLouvain-KU Leuven)
•    A dynamic and stimulating work environment
•    Collaborations with the UCLouvain Libraries, the Fondation Louvain and research groups such as the Institute for the Study of Civilisations, Arts and Letters (UCLouvain), the Institut orientaliste de Louvain (UCLouvain) and the Research Group Japanese Studies (KU Leuven).

Find out more about working at the UCLouvain here.

Application process

You can apply for this position through the UCLouvain’s online job application platform up to and including the 15th of October 2023.
What is expected?

•    A motivation letter
•    An essay between two and four pages in which you describe a proposal of research project related to the Japanese book collection.
To this end, you can check the online catalog and browse a part of the digitized collection.
•    An academic CV, including your publication track record